On November 12, 2021 – we gathered upon Kaurna Country at the Adelaide Convention Centre for the SA Woman Awards, to celebrate the achievements of women in business in South Australia.
And, oh what a night!
We were joined by over 300 guests & the vibe was electric. Our Founder, Carly Thompson-Barry, kicked off the night with a rousing speech, and then the mix of shock, joy and pride as each winner was called out was just brilliant to witness. And seeing women supporting women in every single category & every corner of the room!
Our inaugural SA Woman Awards were held in 2018, and ever since then we have had more & more to cheer about!
From start-ups to employees to major businesses, our award categories recognise women who are excelling at all different stages of their business and career journey.
Women in all industries, businesses sizes and locations. Women of all backgrounds, family dynamic, colour, cultures and experience.
We are proud & excited to announce the Winners of the 2021 SA Woman Awards and share their acceptance speeches.
The Innovator Award
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY: Webb Software
For a woman who has created a business that shows innovation in an existing industry or new concept.
CATEGORY WINNER:
- Yovanka Loria – Yovanka Loria
Yovanka Loria is a multi-faceted company, comprised of a boutique salon, signature line of luxury hand-tied hair extensions & exceptional education.
WINNER’S SPEECH:
“Winning this award signifies a lot for me – it’s for every single girl who was told no. It’s for every immigrant parent that had to fight to build a better life for their children.
It’s for every girl that got told they weren’t enough, or in my case ‘you’re just a hairdresser’ For every girl who got told they were too uneducated, too inexperienced and were too different – this award signifies that anything really is possible!
What an honour it is to be a part of an incredible calibre of women in business. I really believe in women empowering women and helping each other out. Thank you for bringing this amazing event together to celebrate each other’s accomplishments.
I’ve been working on my career for a long time (precisely 29 years, but who’s counting), always evolving and changing up my direction to stay with the times. It’s nice when everything aligns and your hard work is recognised. I hope by winning this award, I can encourage other women to persevere in with their dreams.
I would like to thank my husband and business partner, Vlad, who has always believed and supported me from day one. He stepped in to facilitate our rapidly growing business and team and helped me overcome the many challenges that presented themselves throughout this journey. Vlad, you really are the best partner and father I could ask for.
My incredible, resilient little humans; David and Teya. Mummy loves you and hopes to encourage you to follow your dreams and don’t be afraid to try something new. I love you for all your support and understanding of the sacrifices we’ve had to make.
Thank you to my hardworking, funny as hell and supportive team. We all knew from day one we were making an impact by restoring confidence in women. I couldn’t have pulled this off without their dedication, attention to detail and exceptional work ethic and I am so very grateful for them. This appreciation extends to my mentors and colleagues who have helped, advised and supported me along the way.
A huge thank you to all our incredible clients who believed and trusted us from day one and really helped push us forward. We truly cherish each and every one of you! The reward that comes from our makeovers has become everything to me, my team and our community.
Lastly, I can’t thank my fellow hairstylists enough for taking a chance on me. Our industry has been massively undervalued, and I feel very grateful to have this opportunity to share a little of my experience and journey with so many amazing, talented hairstylists. The impact this has had on so many already, assures me we have found our purpose and we are only just getting started.”
Read the full article here: https://www.sawoman.com.au/sa-woman-awards-winners-2021/
